ScottM
Taxi to Parking
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2005
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iBazinga!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-vandenberg28-2009may28,0,5520118.storyKEY WEST, FLA. - A ship last used by the U.S. Air Force to track missiles and spacecraft has been sunk in the Florida Keys, creating a new artificial reef for sport divers and anglers.
The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg sank in less than two minutes this morning, after demolition experts triggered a series of explosives that lined the both sides of the ship.
Key West City Manager Jim Scholl says he believes the 17,000-ton, 523-foot-long ship settled on the bottom of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in an upright position, but he was waiting for confirmation from divers.
Why am I posting this?
Well this WW2 era ship also served time as a tracking ship for the USAF on the Eastern Space and Missile Center aka Cape Canaveral. I served on the ship a few times for launches. With the launch of TRDS the down range stations became obsolete by the late 1980's and were eliminated. Ships such as the Vandenberg were fill ins, going to places were there was no land to build a station.